SANS.edu Sentinels Achieve Top Rankings in Spring 2025 National Cyber League Competition

Bethesda, MD – Students from the SANS Technology Institute (SANS.edu) delivered another outstanding performance in the Spring 2025 National Cyber League (NCL) Competition, a nationally recognized platform for hands-on cybersecurity challenges. In a field of over 9,200 participants representing 798 colleges and high schools across the U.S., the SANS.edu Sentinels once again proved themselves among the country’s top collegiate cybersecurity teams.

The SANS.edu Sentinels’ notable accomplishments at the Spring 2025 NCL Competition include:

• #1 Power Ranking in the Experienced Student bracket
• #4 Power Ranking in the Eastern division
• #5 Power Ranking among NSA Colleges of Academic Distinction
• #8 Power Ranking in the Standard Student bracket
• #2 Individual Player in the Experienced Student bracket
• #3 Team in the Experienced Student bracket
• #4 Team in the Experienced Student bracket
• 3 teams in the Top 100 of the Standard Student bracket
• 7 teams in the Top 100 of the Experienced Student bracket
• 26% of the Top 100 individuals in the Experienced bracket were SANS.edu Sentinels

“We’re so proud of our students, who continue to prove that hands-on skills, industry-recognized certifications, and world-class instruction lead to real-world excellence,” said Ed Skoudis, President of the SANS Technology Institute. “Their consistent success in NCL competitions reflects the intensity of their preparation—and their passion for cybersecurity.”

One of the standout teams, SANS.edu Sentinels 520, placed 3rd overall in the Experienced Student bracket. The team included Jill Francis, Bradley Greer, David Navo, Michal Belzak (Paller Scholar), Skyler Cunha, Wee Ki Joon, Derek Petersen.

“Someone wrote on the NCL message board, ‘What are they feeding you guys at SANS?’” said Jill Francis, a master’s degree student at SANS.edu. “My response was, ‘Knowledge… really, really good knowledge’ — and honestly, that’s what helped us succeed in such a challenging and rewarding competition.”

“To be honest, SANS first got on my radar when I saw so many Sentinel Teams on the NCL leaderboard when I was in undergrad,” added Bradley Greer, a graduate certificate student in Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking at SANS.edu.

The 4th place team in the Experienced Student bracket, SANS.edu Sentinels 391, included Brian Davidson, Samuel Decker, Eric Gerow, Nicholas Jones, Jonathan Hemingway, Robert Henderson, and Jason Mull.

About the SANS Technology Institute

The SANS Technology Institute (SANS.edu), America's premier college for cybersecurity, delivers distinguished career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs, characterized by a world-class faculty of highly skilled information security practitioners, hands-on cybersecurity courses regularly updated for real-world relevance, and industry-recognized GIAC certifications earned within each program. SANS.edu offers innovative online and in-person course delivery options, including 100% online options for all its programs. Master's degree students at SANS.edu conduct leading-edge cybersecurity research, enhancing the state of the art in information security practices. The college also houses the Internet Storm Center, the world's leading global cyber threat detection network, where bachelor's degree students gain hands-on experience as Apprentice Handlers.

The SANS Technology Institute's emphasis on real-world skills, mentorship, and cutting-edge curriculum ensures graduates are equipped to defend against today's evolving cyber threats.

For more information about SANS Technology Institute and its programs, visit sans.edu.